9:30 a.m. — Foreign Relations Committee holds a hearing on the following nominations: John Hillen III to be assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs; Barry Lowenkron to be assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor; Kent Hill to be assistant administrator for global health at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Jacqueline Schafer to be assistant administrator of USAID for economic growth, agriculture and trade. Location: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4651.

International criminal tribunals — all day — The American University Washington College of Law holds a conference titled, “International Criminal Tribunals in the 21st Century.” Events begin at 9 a.m.

Highlight — 9:20 a.m. — Aryeh Neier, president of the Open Society Institute; and Diane Orentlicher, professor at the AU Washington College of Law, U.N. independent expert to update the U.N. set of principles for the protection of human rights through action to combat impunity, discuss “Approaching the Next Era of War Crimes Tribunals.”

Democracy videoconference — 9 a.m. — Americans for Informed Democracy sponsors a videoconference, beginning at 9 a.m., that will allow students in Washington, New York, Atlanta and Williamsburg to talk “face to face” with their peers in Beirut about the future of Western-Muslim world relations. Location: The World Bank, Videoconference Studio, 701 18th St. NW. Contact: 202/270-6268.

Judging judges — 9:30 a.m. — The Progressive Policy Institute holds a forum titled, “Judging the Judges: Legal and Political Analysts Discuss the New Politics of the Supreme Court.” Stuart Taylor, senior writer and columnist for National Journal; Jeffrey Rosen, professor of law at George Washington University; Ed Kilgore, vice president for policy at the Democratic Leadership Council; and Will Marshall, president of PPI, participate. Location: PPI, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Contact: 202/547-0001.

Commerce in the Americas — 10 a.m. — The Organization of American States hosts a speech by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez who will speak on issues pertaining to the future on commerce in the hemisphere. Location: OAS, 17th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest. Contact: 202/458-6824.

Disaster finances — noon — The Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau and the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives holds an audio conference titled, “Facing a Financial Crisis,” which will help the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as those who want to learn to deal with their finances after a disaster. Location: None given. Contact: 202/693-6767.

“Restless Giant” — noon — The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars holds a book discussion with James Patterson, author of “Restless Giant: The United States From Watergate to Bush v. Gore.” Edward Berkowitz, George Washington University, and Melvyn Leffler, University of Virginia, participate. Location: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contact: 202/691-4000.

Jim Henson stamp — 2 p.m. — The U.S. Postal Service holds a ceremony to present a giant poster of the commemorative stamp set, “Jim Henson, the Man Behind the Muppets,” and an engraved plaque during a ceremony in front of the Jim Henson Statue and Memorial Garden. C.D. “Dan” Mote Jr., president, University of Maryland; and Michael Spates, consumer advocate and vice president of consumer affairs, U.S. Postal Service, participate. Location: Jim Henson Statue and Memorial Garden at the Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park. Contact: 301/548-1465 or 301/405-4076.

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